Laziest monsoon in 18 years, may reach Delhi only by July 10

NEW DELHI: The onset of monsoon over Delhi is likely to happen around July 10, according to the latest forecast by India Meteorological Department (IMD). If it arrives in the capital by July 10, it would be the most delayed monsoon in 18 years. Rain activity is likely to start in Delhi from July 8.
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IMD had earlier predicted an early onset of monsoon on June 15 but the advancement of monsoon slowed down. The monsoon was delayed as it crossed its normal arrival date of June 27. It is now expected around July 10 and the capital may witness the most delayed monsoon since 2002. The onset of monsoon in the capital took place on July 19 in 2002. In 2006, the monsoon had arrived on July 9. In 1987, Delhi had witnessed monsoon arrival on July 26, an all-time record delay.
Kuldeep Srivastava, scientist at IMD, said, “The monsoon is likely to arrive around July 10. The rainfall activity is predicted to increase in the region.”
“Moist easterly winds in lower level from Bay of Bengal are likely to establish gradually over parts of eastern India from July 8 onwards. They are likely to spread into northwest India covering Punjab and north Haryana by July 10. Accordingly, southwest monsoon is likely to advance over remaining parts of West Uttar Pradesh, some more parts of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan and Delhi around July 10,” said IMD’s bulletin on Monday.
The forecast of the Met department says there is a possibility of thundery development on Tuesday and Wednesday. However, light rain or thundershowers are expected from July 8 onwards. The rain will also help in bringing down the mercury as maximum temperature is expected to reach 34 degrees Celsius by July 11.
On Monday, the maximum temperature was recorded at 39.5 degrees Celsius, three degrees above normal. The minimum temperature settled at 28 degrees Celsius. The relative humidity oscillated between 62% and 40%.
The overall Air Quality Index in the city was 149, which comes under moderate category. “Dust (PM10) will be the lead pollutant for the next three days. AQI is forecast to remain in the ‘moderate’ category for the next three days,” stated System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research.